Implementing a Dispose Method

• How to make sure that a class always are disposed correctly

• .NET Framework Developer's Guide Implementing a Dispose Method

// Design pattern for the base class.
// By implementing IDisposable, you are announcing that instances
// of this type allocate scarce resources.
public class BaseResource: IDisposable
{
   // Pointer to an external unmanaged resource.
   private IntPtr handle;
   // Other managed resource this class uses.
   private Component Components;
   // Track whether Dispose has been called.
   private bool disposed = false;

   // Constructor for the BaseResource object.
   public BaseResource()
   {
      // Insert appropriate constructor code here.
   }

   // Implement IDisposable.
   // Do not make this method virtual.
   // A derived class should not be able to override this method.
   public void Dispose()
   {
      Dispose(true);
      // Take yourself off the Finalization queue 
      // to prevent finalization code for this object
      // from executing a second time.
      GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
   }

   // Dispose(bool disposing) executes in two distinct scenarios.
   // If disposing equals true, the method has been called directly
   // or indirectly by a user's code. Managed and unmanaged resources
   // can be disposed.
   // If disposing equals false, the method has been called by the 
   // runtime from inside the finalizer and you should not reference 
   // other objects. Only unmanaged resources can be disposed.
   protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
   {
      // Check to see if Dispose has already been called.
      if(!this.disposed)
      {
         // If disposing equals true, dispose all managed 
         // and unmanaged resources.
         if(disposing)
         {
            // Dispose managed resources.
            Components.Dispose();
         }
         // Release unmanaged resources. If disposing is false, 
         // only the following code is executed.
         CloseHandle(handle);
         handle = IntPtr.Zero;
         // Note that this is not thread safe.
         // Another thread could start disposing the object
         // after the managed resources are disposed,
         // but before the disposed flag is set to true.
         // If thread safety is necessary, it must be
         // implemented by the client.

      }
      disposed = true;         
   }

   // Use C# destructor syntax for finalization code.
   // This destructor will run only if the Dispose method 
   // does not get called.
   // It gives your base class the opportunity to finalize.
   // Do not provide destructors in types derived from this class.
   ~BaseResource()      
   {
      // Do not re-create Dispose clean-up code here.
      // Calling Dispose(false) is optimal in terms of
      // readability and maintainability.
      Dispose(false);
   }

   // Allow your Dispose method to be called multiple times,
   // but throw an exception if the object has been disposed.
   // Whenever you do something with this class, 
   // check to see if it has been disposed.
   public void DoSomething()
   {
      if(this.disposed)
      {
         throw new ObjectDisposedException();
      }
   }
}

// Design pattern for a derived class.
// Note that this derived class inherently implements the 
// IDisposable interface because it is implemented in the base class.
public class MyResourceWrapper: BaseResource
{
   // A managed resource that you add in this derived class.
   private ManagedResource addedManaged;
   // A native unmanaged resource that you add in this derived class.
   private NativeResource addedNative;
   private bool disposed = false;

  // Constructor for this object.
   public MyResourceWrapper()
   {
      // Insert appropriate constructor code here.
   }

   protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
   {
      if(!this.disposed)
      {
         try
         {
            if(disposing)
            {
               // Release the managed resources you added in
               // this derived class here.
               addedManaged.Dispose();         
            }
            // Release the native unmanaged resources you added
            // in this derived class here.
            CloseHandle(addedNative);
            this.disposed = true;
         }
         finally
         {
            // Call Dispose on your base class.
            base.Dispose(disposing);
         }
      }
   }
}

// This derived class does not have a Finalize method
// or a Dispose method without parameters because it inherits 
// them from the base class.